Colorado

Safe Haven Education cannot give you legal advice about what may happen in a specific case, but we will always point you to people who will prioritize your safety and your baby’s safety first.For immediate online help, visit: shbb.org

What it means when there is no Safe Haven Law

Without a dedicated Safe Haven statute, your state:

• Has no clear list of Safe Haven surrender locations in law.
• Does not explicitly describe anonymous surrender protections.
• Relies on existing child welfare, abuse, neglect, and abandonment laws to handle situations where an infant is left or relinquished.

This can create confusion and fear for parents, and uncertainty for schools, hospitals, first responders, and faith communities who want to do the right thing.

Safe Haven Education’s role in [STATE_NAME] is to clarify what is and is not in place, equip institutions to respond safely and compassionately, and support leaders who are working toward a clear Safe Haven law.

If you are a school, church, clinic, or community organization in [STATE_NAME]

Even without a Safe Haven statute, you can still make a real difference.

1. Prepare your team for hard conversations.

• Train staff and volunteers to recognize signs that a student or community member may be hiding a pregnancy or in distress.
• Respond calmly, without shaming language.
• Know that there are safe, confidential pathways for help.

Keep the crisis number visible in staff areas: 1-866-99-BABY-1.

2. Know your reporting and safety obligations.

Every state has laws about mandated reporting of abuse or neglect, how to involve child protective services, and how schools and agencies must handle disclosures that a child is unsafe.

Make sure your policies reflect your state’s child welfare and reporting laws, explain clearly who staff should call first in an emergency, and are easy for front line staff to follow under pressure.

3. Create a local response plan.

• Designate a point person or team to handle pregnancy related crises.
• Script what staff should say when someone asks for help with a newborn.
• Build relationships with local hospitals, pregnancy help centers, and child welfare agencies.
• Keep printed information available about confidential help lines and support services.

Safe Haven Education can provide training outlines and templates you can adapt for your organization.

If you are hospital, EMS, or law enforcement leadership

In non Safe Haven states, you are still a primary safety net for infants. You can ensure your teams know how to respond when a parent walks in with a newborn asking for help, review policies with legal and risk staff so guidance is consistent and trauma informed, and connect with Safe Haven Education for training and best practices from states that do have Safe Haven laws and baby box programs.

We can help you learn from states that have already implemented Safe Haven protections and SafeHaven Baby Boxes, so you can adapt those insights to [STATE_NAME].

For legislators and advocates in [STATE_NAME]

If you are a legislator or staff member, a community advocate, or a local leader concerned about infant safety, Safe Haven Education can support you with:

• National context on Safe Haven laws and outcomes.
• Sample language and model bill frameworks used in other states.
• Education materials that explain Safe Haven protections to colleagues and constituents.
• Testimony talking points that keep the focus on infant safety and practical implementation.

Our goal is not to dictate policy, but to bring clear data, real world experience, and proven legislative language to the table so [STATE_NAME] can move toward effective, compassionate protections for both infants and parents. You can request a legislative briefing or resource packet through our contact form.

Compliance Note

This page is for education only. It does not list specific legal protections, locations, or guarantees in [STATE_NAME], and it does not replace legal advice. For any legal question or policy decision, consult the current [STATE_NAME] child welfare and criminal statutes, your organization’s legal counsel or compliance office, and state or local child protective services leadership.